Reflecting unit



n Mai' 10, 1932.

c.- c. DODGE 1,858,141

REFLEGTING UNIT Filed Aug 9' 17929 f simple,

,from that of Patented` May 10, 1932 i UNITED STATES PATENT-OFFICE CLINTON C. lDODGE, 0F CHABLESTOWN, INDIANA, ASSIGNOB '.l() LOUISVILLE FROG` SWITCH @a SIGNAL COMPANY, 0F LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, A GORPORATION REFLECTING UNIT 'applietion mea august e, 1929; serial No. 384,727.

This invention relates to a reflecting unit, and has for its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a unit of the class referred to for reflecting towards a light source, the light rays emanating from the latter and with the reflected rays being of a color different from the color of the rays when emanating from the source thereof.

This invention relates particularly to a reflecting unit comprising a non-colored lens, a transparent or translucent light ray coloring element positioned against the inner end of and free of direct connection to the lens, and carrying or opposing a reflecting surface whereby when the lens and` element are arranged in junta-position or in such position relative t'o a reflector or reflecting surface, light rays emanating from Aa light source will pass through the lens and element to the mirror and bel reflected back through the element and lens towards the light source in a color corresponding to that of the element. Therefore the primary object of the invention is to provide, in amanner as hereinafter set forth, a new, durable, inexpensiveand thoroughly eflicient means whereby light rays when returned in a direction towards theV source thereof, by a reliecting medium will be of a different color the color of the light rays when emanated from such source, and further Y"without saidmeans affecting the brilliancy of the reflecting medium which provides for the return of the light rays.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists of the novel con- A struction, combination and arrangement of [parts as hereinaftermore specifically described, and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, wherein is shownl an embodiment of the invention, but -it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which fall within the scope of the claims hereunto appendedl 'In the drawings wherein like reference characters 4 'denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the refleeting unit.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2--2 Figurel.

`riphery of the'latter.

vlforward face of element 4 and the inner end -ness and can be translucent or tran rays will beof Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form. j

Figure 4 is a Vertical .sectional view of another` modified form.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of still another modified form. v

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view' of still 'another modified form.

The reflecting unit, in each form shown includes a non-colored lens 3 which is of plano-convex type and of cylindrical cross section. f '-y As illustrated in Figure 2,- there is positioned against the inner end vof the lens 3 a light ray coloring element'4 of a diameter corresponding in diameter to'that of the inner end of the lens 3 whereby the edge of said element, when positioned relative to the in-` ner 'end of the lens 3 will be flush'with the pe- The elementl `4 is free of direct connectionV with the lens 3, orin other words, it is loose relative to the inner end of the lens 3 so that 'no cementitious securing means will-be arranged between `the of lens 3, to interfere with the reflected'light rays. l

The element 4 can be of any desired thickarent and it is formed from a fiat circular sc of colored glass, although it is to be understood that the element 4 can be formed of any suitable materialcapable of carrying out the function for which itis designed. The function of element 4is'to change the color of the light rays which enter through the lens 3 and when thelight rays are reflected, by a the reflected a different color from the color of the rays when passing through the lens from front to rear, and such color of the rays will correspondto the color of the element 4.- I

The rear. face of element 4 is silvered or coated by any suitable means as at 5 to provide a reflecting surface.

means to be presently referred to,

Positioned against v the coated rear face of element 4 is a combined retaining and filler member 6, preferably of segment-shaped cross section.

g The inner portion of the lens 3 extends into 100 and is hermetically sealed to. a cup-shaped holder 7 i which projects rearwardly or inwardly with respect to element 4 a distance to snugly enclose the member 6. That portion of the holder 7 which surrounds the lens 3 is hermetically sealed to the latter, element 4 and member 6 by any suitable means. The member 6 retains element 4 against the inner end of lens 3, when member 6 is enclosed by holder 7. The lens 4 projects the desired distance from the forward end of holder 7.

In Figure 3, the light ray coloring element is indicated at 8, the retaining and filler member at 9 and the holder at 10. The element 8 does not have its rear face coated to provide a reflecting surface, but the rear face of member 9 is coated, as at 11 to constitute a reflecting surface. The member 9 is of the same cross sectional shape as member 6. The holder 10 is'of the same form as holder 7. In Figure 3 the holder 10 is mounted on the lens 3 in the same manner as holder 7, but holder 10 is hermetically sealed, by any suitable means to lens 3 and element 8.

The form shown in Figure 4 includes a solid, combined light ray coloring, reflecting and filler element 8 of segmental cross section having its plane face indicated at 9 and its curved face coated throughout with a reflecting mediuml l0'. The body of the element 8 is transparent and formed of colored glass for the purpose of changing the color of the light rays passing towards and when reflected from the reflecting medium 10'.,

The plane face 9 of element 8 is positioned against the plane inner face of the lens 3. The element 8 is retained in juXta-position with respect tothe inner end of the lens 3 by a holder 11', the latter being of cup-shaped form, secured periphery wardl a substantial distance from the inner end o the latter.

The periphery of the element 8 forms a continuation of the periphery of the lens and is flush with the' latter. The element 8 is free of direct connection with the lens. The holder 11 is hermetically sealed to the, lens 3 to prevent the passage of moisture into the holder at the rear thereof whereby the eletothe rear portion of tlie ment 8 is protected.v The holder 11 is se? f1 cured to the lens forwardly of the inner en'd of the latter.

The form shown in Figure 5 is the same as that shown in Figure 4, but in lieu of providing the light ray coloring and filler element 8 with a reflecting medium, the latter is formed on the forward face of a holder 11 as at 10". j 4 i j In theform shown in Figure 6, the light ray coloring element is indicated at 12, the retaining and filling memberat 13 and the holder at 14, but in this form element 12 or member 13 does not have any of the faces thereof coated to provide a reflecting surface.

of the lens and projecting reary tion and for the the rear face of member 13.

The light ray colorin element is sufficiently transparent to provide for the efficient return of the light rays or beams directed from the reflector or reflecting surface.

A beam of light is indicated at 16 and its path through the lens at 17. The path of the beam of light through the lens from the re- `ilector or reflecting surface is indicated at 18.

As the lens is of non-colored glass, such as white glass, it allows the light to penetrate through and hit the reflector much more readily than if the lenswas of one solid color, under such conditions a quick return is had with the changing of the light rays into a different color and reflecting them back to their source.` There is no direct connection between the light ray coloring element and the lens or the retaining and filler member.

A beam of light 16, entering the lens 3, in the direction indicated by the arrow, passes through the lens as indicated by its path 17 and thence through the light ray coloring element to the reflector or reflecting surface. The beam upon striking the reflector-or reflecting surface is reflected, in the direction indicated by the arrow at 19, to its source. The reflected beam will be colored by the light rayA coloring' element and will be of a different color than the color when projected from its source. v

The filler member is to be of a contour similar to the shape of that portion of the holder which projects a substantial distance rearwardly from the light ray coloring element.

-The filler member, when positioned snugly abuts the rear face of the li ht ray coloring element to holdit against t e rearor inner end of the lens. The light ray coloring element is free of direct connection to the lens and filler member, or in other words, such element is loose. i

It is thought the many advantages of a reecting unit, in accordance with this invenreadily` understoo and although the preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, yet it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction can be had which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim is:

1. A reflecting unit comprising ay noncolored lens of plano-convex contour, a transparent light ray coloring element positioned against and free of direct connection to the plane face of the lens, said element having its rear face provided with a reflecting meiurpose set forth can be r iso dium, a holder secured to the rear portion of and extending rearwardly'from the lens, and a filler member within the rear 'portion of the holder and retaining said element against the plane surface of the lens. r

2., A reflecting unit comprising a loosely` mounted lightfray coloring elementformed from a disk of transparent material and having its rear face providedwith a reflecting medium, a plane-convex lens having its plane surface positioned against thefront face of said element, a filler member arranged rearwardly of said element and maintaining the latter against the lens, and a holder secured to and projecting rearwardly from the lens and enclosing said element and member. 3. A reiecting unit comprising a planosaid niedium and the rear end of the holder.

In testimony whereof, I aix my signature hereto. I

CLINTON C. DODGE. 

